Kamo Bombe has had ups and downs since she gained A-list fame as cohost of Shift on SABC1 in 2013.
The TV presenter from Limpopo was not only making it in showbiz, but she also got a poultry farm off the ground. But then she lost it all and she’s now starting over. “I didn’t think I’d be back in front of the camera again, but here I am,” Kamo says.
She recently joined Moja Love’s wedding show Traditional Wedding. The 13-part series sees her travel the country attending lobola negotiations and celebrating traditional wedding ceremonies. Kamo (26) is in great shape. She’s lost 13kg but admits she’s had help getting in shape.
“I took diet pills. I went to see a doctor and a dietician, who told me about the side effects of using diet pills. They said if I don’t follow the correct steps, I could be hospitalised or die.”
WEIGHT-WATCHING
Kamo was unemployed when Shift was cancelled in 2016. She’d hoped to get by on the profits of her poultry business but was forced to close shop after losing hundreds of thousands of rands when her farm was repeatedly vandalised and looted.
She was desperate to find a job but kept being rejected at auditions. “At one audition, a director who knew me personally told me to lose weight if I wanted to get roles for my age.” She’d packed on the kilos as her star was rising.
“I earned a good salary and could afford to eat anything. Alcohol also made me gain weight,” Kamo says. “I went from a size 32 to size 40.”
DESPERATE TIMES
Kamo, the eldest of four kids, didn’t want to burden her family or friends. Her self-esteem, however, was at an all-time low.“I was convinced my weight was the reason I was single. I had to make a change.” She religiously followed the instructions of her GP and dietician.
“I stuck to the diet given to me by the dietitian: no booze, no junk food. I ate according to my blood type and drank almost five litres of water a day.” She’s since ditched the pills.“They came with a lot of instructions and side-effects. I was always emotional for no reason. “Now I eat the right kinds of food for my blood type and I work out at least three times a week.”
A NEW START
After slimming down she landed emcee gigs and a role in Generations: The Legacy. “There are a lot of women who are comfortable with their bodies, but I wasn’t one of them. But that’s all changed because I’ve learnt to appreciate myself and my strengths.”
She’s found new dating confidence too. “Although I’m still single, at least men are now asking me out on dates.” And when she does decide to see someone, he needs to be kind and hardworking. “I don’t want a guy with baggage, I want to build a future.”
